Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a spectacular starting point for all sorts of learning opportunities!

Field Trip Infomation:
If you are a school group or other organized group and would like to schedule an in-school program or summer program, please contact Janis Kadlec at (702) 515-5380. If you would like to schedule a field trip, please do so here.

Learn Anywhere

Can't make it to Red Rock Canyon? Had a great visit and want to learn more? Check out all of the links here for programs, articles, and more from BLM and SNC. Feel free to use them at home, with homeschool groups, distance learning, class assignments, or simply personal enrichment!

Educational Resources from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (RRCNCA).
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BLM National Education Page
Recreation, conservation, and commercial activities on public lands offer opportunities for people to connect with their natural and cultural heritage. Learn more about your public lands and how you can have a role in creating a stronger and more beautiful America. Bureau of Land Management.

Hands on the Land
Hands on the Land partnerships provide hands-on field experiences, such as citizen science and environmental monitoring projects that connect the next generation to our forests, parks, waterways, and wildlife refuges. Bureau of Land Management.

Project Archaeology
Project Archaeology provides schoolteachers with the tools to incorporate archaeology activities into their lesson plans as they teach subjects such as math, science, and critical thinking.

Classroom Investigations
Designed for use by secondary school teachers, this series addresses topics related to the programs and mission of the BLM. Topics include wildlife habitats, native plants, solar energy, minerals, and the BLM's multiple-use mission. Bureau of Land Management.

Red Rock Canyon for Kids
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA) provides a variety of opportunities to engage Junior Rangers in the Mojave Desert. Links to resources and information can be adapted for homeschool purposes (click "For Kids"). Bureau of Land Management.

Junior Ranger Discovery Book for Red Rock Canyon 
BLM’s Junior Ranger program helps introduce young explorers like you to the lands and resources that the BLM manages. This discovery book will introduce you to plants, animals, and history of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Red Rock Canyon is one of many public land locations you can enjoy. Bureau of Land Management. (Ages 4 to 13)

Teacher Resources Curricula
Lesson plans developed for Red Rock Canyon NCA. These lesson plans and activities can be adapted for homeschool use. See the below activities sampled from this website. Bureau of Land Management.

  • Oreo Earth Activity: Activity using Oreo cookies to demonstrate different tectonic plate boundaries. Bureau of Land Management. (Grades 6-12)
  • Geology Timeline Activity: Activity to demonstrate the relative distance of events in time. Bureau of Land Management. (Grades 3-12)
  • Meet a Rock Activity: Activity to observe and categorize different characteristics of rocks using senses and to record and utilize observed data. Written for in the field instruction but can easily be adapted to at home resources. Please check with your local library to see if “Everybody Needs a Rock” by Byrd Baylor is available online. Bureau of Land Management. (Grades K-2)
  • Leave No Trace Activity: Activity to learn principles of Leave No Trace and minimize impacts on natural places. Written for in the field but can easily be adapted to outside the home or nearby park. Bureau of Land Management. (Grades K-12)
  • The Lorax Activity (Version for grades 6-12): Activity to discuss environmental impacts from a variety of influences and understand personal impacts on the environment. Bureau of Land Management.
  • The Lorax Activity (Version for grades K-5): Activity to discuss environmental impacts from a variety of influences and understand personal impacts on the environment. Bureau of Land Management.
  • Nature’s Super Walmart Activity: Activity to evaluate needs and resources necessary. Learn traditional and historical uses of desert plants. This activity can be adapted for use in the front yard, backyard, or on a neighborhood trail. Bureau of Land Management. (Grades 3-5)
  • Rock Art Activity: Activity to learn types and historical uses of rock art at Red Rock Canyon NCA. Bureau of Land Management. (Grades K-2)
  • Desert Animals Activity: Activity to learn about animals that live at Red Rock Canyon NCA. Bureau of Land Management. (Grades K-2)
  • Plant and Animal Scavenger Hunt: Activity that can be adapted for a neighborhood trail to identify and observe various plant and animal features. Helps keep students engaged during hike/walk. Bureau of Land Management. (Grades K-5)
  • You Help Me and I’ll Help You (Or Not!) Activity: Activity to learn about relationships between plants and animals at Red Rock Canyon NCA. To adapt for homeschool, instead of handing a card to each classmate, you can place cards around the house. Bureau of Land Management. (Grades K-5)

Resources created by Interpretive Naturalists from Southern Nevada Conservancy through a cooperative partnership with BLM.
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Red Rock Canyon A to Z
Red Rock Canyon NCA is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. Learn about a plant or animal from every letter of the alphabet! Can you learn a new letter every day?

Wildlife Wednesday
Wednesdays get wild! Take an in depth look at the animals that call Red Rock Canyon NCA home. A list of over 50 animals will help you identify animals on your next wildlife watching excursion, or your next walk in the park.

Flower Friday
Fridays are for flowers! With over 300 flowering species at Red Rock Canyon NCA, there’s so much to discover. This list of over 50 of our more commonly seen flowers or plants will help you discover, understand how important they are, and enjoy the beauty found at Red Rock Canyon NCA.

Pine Creek Canyon and Lost Creek Children's Discovery Virtual Hikes
A virtual hike is a great substitute when an actual visit is not possible. Also, you can preview a planned future hike or re-experience a hike that you have actually taken, with the added value of professional interpretation along the trail.

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